The Biz Starter🚀 - The Power of the Word "No"

May 24, 2022

*View this newsletter in your browser for the best experience*

Hi there!

Have you ever had to deal with a difficult person in your business? Over the years I've learned there is no way to avoid difficult people in life and in business. Setting boundaries in your personal life makes it a bit easier, but in your business, it's a little different. This week we focus on managing difficult people in your business, so you can concentrate on growth. Now let’s get into this week’s tips, ideas, and resources!🙂

The Latest From Sherry

Something interesting happened this week, I had to deal with a very difficult person. It's been a while, but in business, it happens. It was with someone who wanted to collaborate on a joint venture project that we casually discussed over the last few weeks. Business priorities change, availability, and the scope of the project changed—so I told them "now was not a good time." This did not go over well as you can imagine. After a short chat, my answer turned into a "no, this is not a good fit for my business". The person remained upset and difficult until I said the magic word—"no". The conversation ended respectfully because I stayed calm, listened, and finally arrived at the final answer.

Sometimes it's hard hearing the word no, whether it is a person pursuing to work with you, or you trying to get business from a prospective customer. It was their response and behavior that closed the door. This was a good lesson in listening and calm. Try hard to never let someone pressure you into compromising your business decisions.

Conflict in your business will come up and how you handle it represents you, your brand, and your business. This is especially true when dealing with a difficult customer. Here are some ways you can deal with people who are difficult in a positive way while remaining true to your business values.

Stay calm. Take a deep breath, count to ten and think of something peaceful. Responding in anger will only escalate the situation.

Be kind. It’s not easy, but assume their intentions are not bad, so try to be patient with them. Give them the benefit of the doubt and let them explain their frustration.

Find out what they need. Sometimes people have a hard time communicating what they need. To defuse the conflict, find out what the need is, and try to give them something that will meet it.

Listen more. Talk less. Listening to them shows you have empathy and you’re not being dismissive of athem.

Clarify with questions. Don’t just nod in agreement if you are not clear on what they want. Ask questions to get a better understanding.

Use humor to cut the tension. Try to make it light with humor and maybe the person will also lighten up and adjust their behavior. Sometimes a smile can help defuse the situation.

Add the word “no” to your vocabulary. Normalize turning down opportunities that do not serve you or your business well. Be accommodating up to a point without compromising your business values.

Find out which strategy works best for you and take note and remember what worked and what didn’t work. Dealing with difficult people is a part of business, so keep these strategies in mind when the time comes.

This Week's Web Picks

We share examples of positive statements to use in customer service that prove particularly useful in difficult situations. Classic Examples of Difficult Situations In the contact centre, advisors are often tasked with handling customer calls in difficult situations. A classic [&.

Toxic people defy logic. Some are blissfully unaware of the negativity they spread, while others seem to derive satisfaction from creating chaos.

Top Resource of the Week

Have you thought about starting a joint venture with a peer? Two heads are always better than one and you’ll each achieve more together than you would alone. The first step is to find a business partner. Your ideal joint venture partner is someone with the resources, skills, and assets to bring to the project that, in combination with yours, will make it successful. Here is a free quick guide to help you select a joint venture to help your business grow. ⤵️

Tweet of the Week

Join Me!

If you want to make your content and posts count for something more than just followers, join me inside the free 7-Day Monetize Content Challenge!⤵️

Until Next Time

That’s it for this Tuesday’s edition. Thank you for reading. 😊

Please share this newsletter with friends, family, pets, peers, strangers, social media followers, and your neighbors.😉

—Sherry